Pending the final pronouncement by IAAF on the issue of anomalies on his biological passport Matej Toth got a first result in his favor.
It will almost certainly be the IAAF Athletics Integrity Unit to deal with.
Meanwhile Tóth has now been found not guilty by Slovak Athletic Federation (SAZ), who accepted his explanation following a hearing in August as to why there were variations in his biological passport.
The fact
During the years from 2009 to 2016 Matej Toth had been tested with blood collection on behalf of the IAAF, 24 times, of which 8 in the last year.
One time, in the above-mentioned sample on May 4, 2016, hemoglobin (HGB) values were found to be lower than usual that it had assumed a high blood withdrawal. The subsequent increase in value in a collection near the Olympic Games had, therefore, advanced the hypothesis of auto-blood transfusion, which is now prohibited.
The athlete had therefore been asked to justify the fact.
Defense thesis
Matej Toth's defense thesis, supported by various scientific publications, including that of Prof. Samuel J. Machin (professor of Hematology at London University College), Dr. Cristobal Belda Iniesta, R & M Director in HM Uspitales Madrid Research Foundation, was based on two pillars:
- the individual characteristics of the athlete's body (specific phenotype) and the ability to react quickly to stimuli (hypoxia, detréning and variations during the day)
- athlete's physical status before the sample taking in May 2016 as one of the parameters being challenged was that of the HGB in the sample of May 4, 2016
and supported by Prof. Dr. Paul Knoebel of the Department of Ematology at the Medical University of Wien, by Prof. Laszlo G. Boris, Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California Los Angeles and Dr. Robert Mistrik of the University of Olomouc.
The decision of Slovak Federation
The SAZ Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Ivan Čillík, claimed they had analysed Tóth's samples and "All analyses were in Matej Tóth’s favour".
The Athletics Integrity Unit, who now handle doping cases for the IAAF, have 21 days to study the decision of the Slovak Athletic Federation (SAZ).
"The Athletics Integrity Unit has been informed that Tóth was cleared by the National Disciplinary panel in Slovakia .
Once all documentation is received, it will be carefully reviewed by the Athletics Integrity Unit who will then decide whether or not to lodge an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Tóth has claimed that previous scientific experiments have shown he produces an naturally high-level of red blood cells.
"I am convinced that everyone knows that the results I have achieved have been clean" said Tóth.
"These arguments are so strong that they will have to admit that it is a condition that was caused naturally, not doping."
The detail of defense on www.doverun.sk (in slovak): click here